Massaging apparatus



4, 1944- H. o. PETERSEN I MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l \NJIEWI N HEN/Q9 U. FETER'EEN Oct. 24, 1944. H. PETERSEN 2,360,975

MASSAGING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1941 l5' ooooodoooooooo ooooooooqooooo y WXYIXWW NEW A U. FE TEREIEN with an undulating action.

' away to show details of Patented oct. 24, 1944 2,360,995 [1* v H MASSAGING' APPARATUS Henry 0. Petersen, Jacksonpll lich. v Application December 11 1941, Serial No. 422,480 2' Claims. 01. 128-51) 1 The-present invention relates to a massaging table and more particularly to a device for mechanically massaging the spine of a patient.

Massaging with a device according to the present invention not only provides a. more vigorous rythmical "action than may be provided manually; but also after initial adjustment, leaves the masseur free to perform other work.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanical apparatus for massaging the spine of a patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide massaging apparatus for massaging a patient A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for reciprocating I kneading members fora massaging table providing them as a group with anundulating action.

These and other objects residing in the arrangement, combination and construction of the parts will be apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying Fig. 1 is a side I elevation of apparatus according to the present invention, having parts broken the operation mechanism, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus,

- Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line III-III of Fig. 1, illustrating the reciprocating mecha-,

nism for the kneading members,

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section correspond- "ing to a portion of; Fig. 3, disclosing an alternative form of kneading member,

-' Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of an alternative form of apparatus according to the present invention, and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line VIVI of Fig.5.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the reference character I indicates a side frame member of which there to the side frame members I by bars 2 is an end frame member 3. Pivotally supported from the side frame members I by a shaft 4 is a table frame 5 to the top of which is secured a table pad 6. The table frame 5 is connected to the end frame 3 by suitable tilting mechanism 1 for tilting the table frame 5 may be desired.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the table pad 6 and the table frame 5 are provided with an opening 8 extending longitudinally of the table and through wihch project a plurality of kneading members 9 guided for vertical reciprocating in a direction substantially normal to the surface of the table in sleeves I 0. The

about the shaft 4 as are two. Suitably tied given to the eccentrics 29.

spect to the top of ed on the portions members 9 are '29 are disposed I clearance between the'ends of' the members 9 amount of pivoting action between '28 disclosed particularly in Fig. 1.

sleeves I are connectedas by welding, for instance, to a bar-I I supported at its opposite ends Each of the kneading members 9 is provided 7 with a body contacting area I directly connected to a kneading member portion I6 threaded for adjusting theheight of the areas I5 with rethe table pad 6. The adbylknurled nuts II, thread- I6, resting on the tops of the kneading'members 9 are arjustment is provided members 9. The

ranged in a pluralityof pairs, the members of 'each'pairbeing aligned transversely of the table top 6, The lower ends of each pair of kneading connected together by a link 20. The specific connection between the kneading members 9 "and'each link 29 consists ofa pair ofears*2I -'at' thelower end of each member 9 between which the ends respectively of,-the link and-pivoted by pins 22'.- The and the link is very smallso'thatonly a small the kneading members 9-andthe link 20 is possible. Each link 29 is provided with an arcuate slot 23 in which is disposed a pin'24 mounted at the end of a lever 25, each'lever'25 being pivoted suitably supported at one end in a bracket 27 and the other end in a bracket Each lever is actuated by aneccentric 29 having an adjustable connecting rod 30 pivoted to the opposite end of its lever 25 from the pin 24. The eccentrics 29 are actuated by a driven sha'ft'3l journaled in the brackets 21 and 28 and driven by a motor, not shown, supported in the housing 32 disclosed in Fig.1. .As disclosed in Fig. 1 each 'eccentric 29 is suitably adjusted with respect to the shaft 3| so that in any one instant the areas I5 of the kneading members 9 provide as a group an undulating surface and as the shaft 3I is rotated to reciprocate the kneading members 9, the kneading members 9 as a group are given an undulating movement. However, it is to be understood that any desired adjustment may be Enclosing the eccentrics 29, shafts 26 and 3I and associated structure beneath the table frame 5 is a sheet metal housing 32.

At the end of the opening 8 through which the kneading members 9 project, adjacent the end of the table pad 6, there is provided on the table pad 6 a pillow 35 for the head of the patient I the longitudinal center line of spines disposed on the table pad 6 and at each side of the table pad 6 there are provided shoulder supports 36-adjustable longitudinally of the table by clamps 31 so that the position of the body of a patient on the table may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the kneading members 9 and the patient held against sliding from the table pad 6 when the table is tilted by the mechanism 1. The shoulder pp ts 36. a e, provid d with shou d r on actin pa 5-, which m ym: m y not; be. rgivotalh mounted, as desired.

In operation, when a patient has been disposed on the table pad 6 and the table has been given" its correct inclination about the shaft-lbw means. of the tilting mechanism 1, the shaft 31, is rotated to actuate the eccentrics 29. It will be observed that the body ing members 9 are members 15 of eachpair of kneading members 5 ar di posed n QPnQ ite; sideso the pati nts exactsnacing 91: the areas .5 w ll be understood b the pra titi ners-tl1e= shaft M rotates t e e cent ics re pro ate the kneadin massage. thespine oi the patient. n the table a d duets the; d u ment on the ecce t i s mpi geme t he areas 1.5 againstthe body f. thcanat ent w l. cyclically sh it r m on rpa t at the spine oi the patient to ancth It wi l. he unde t od that h inens r o th massas-i-namar b var ed. by adiiisting; th lengthscfithe t readed nnrti ns l6 an h talsc the ch ract rcfi the m aging m y be ar e b ap r pri te adinstme ts o the cacent ics. -19; snQ ld a. ch nge in, the character of massaging ezde ir d. t l a An t r-m ne term at knea ing m m er is disclcscd in .i In, term. the. t bula kneading members 3 ar the guidin the kneading members t suppo t d. The knead ns em rs 3 a e-intended w th, spi d s-3 on the: top at whi h, ared pc ed. hcdr ntactin areas 40- 'Ihe spindles, t t-a e re i iently pro jected from the tubular H tions 38 by springs, A l-with; tharesult that, as, the bodycnntact ne; areas en age with the, body of. a patie t, onthetableflhsr esi iently y eld against the a tion at t e spr ngs M.-

In. Fi s. 4 and. 5 s disclosed an embodim n cf inv nti n wncrei oan-altern tivc tom o kneading; s u tu e is eninlnred. Accordi t thisex bod ment, the-lastnfr or kneading a ea 15 in th direction: of'the center oithe, table are shimmy-su p r ed in tubes 10, in thesame mann r, s ar knead ng, member 012- a spaced series along the place of the two inner body contacting areas IE, it will be understood that the apparatus may be operated to provide the kneading members 9 with an undulating motion or with any other motion desired, as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

l. A massaging apparatus comprising an elongated reclining table for recei ng a patient and said tab ha in e ongat d ope in in its middle throu hout a portion of its length, a plurality of pairs of upright bearing" sleeves arranged the length of the opening and with the sleeves of each pair spaced apart aligned transversely within the opening, a

kneading member for each of said bearing sleeves provided with a stem slidably received in the contactin areast-mt the knead-r 5 slightly spaced so that, the,

r p c d by a singletpad' 4.5, support d na metal firame 41., Th fr me- 41: s provided with w pa rs f downward y molestin cars 48. Between eacnna o ea s 4 15. pi cted by; a. pin 48 a flat;- tened. nd. portion 511.0? o s t t e: ndknead ng members; l6...- Whenih pad Ali is. emplcy d in length, a lurali yo .supno n r and with. a

lnnsitndinal y benea h he.

andhaving a head-like body contacting area at its upper end, a link connected across between the lower ends of each pair of kneading members a s a t extend ngl ng t di y-beeath the tab e 1eve s-rogl ab r inn ntsc pon i shaft. a ac t n e ch hair f kneadin members. a onnection rom; n n ,Q sash le is the-middle nQxtinn-Q he i k q nnect n tn ad a ent, nai. oi kn ad ngm mbers, r tata le dri e naitr a-nlur r-c z cnen ics s id drive shaft, and connecti ns rom s id en rics to: the se al r c ng l vers, I r 4 2, A. mass g ng appar tus snmnn in an elqngated reclining table having an elongated open ina its dletnr u h u a nc ticn. f; its It o ed tr ns versely across said opening in; a spaced series, a pair o ,uicle eeve carriedn p di se icn. and in spaced e a n. y ea h of. s d. trans.- verse nnnorts, a Kn adingmemb r fl tsam Q said uide sle i s nail a tem portion sl dahl n. he pr ht: slee and ng rovi ed at. its

bqdr ontacting. ar ai n ss cennecting transversel b tween the. cwe e ds c he stems Q e h. of sa d Knead Inembs s and said links provided slot ed shaftm nnted nd ex end lensi udinal y b neath he. tab aa nrali r o levers moun d on aid .shaitwi h th Opposite en s. th r e ex ending ateral y s rocking levers beinstsaacedal ne he shaf in p sitio s ccrre p nd ng thesna s o th p i of naame n ers and cor-r s nding levers harm-g cneendmcm blr Qnn cts in the s a of the. of.v hnadiac nt pair of. kneadin members, a rotatable op er-atingshait extending ta la, a plurality of eccentrics. ani stablr mounted said cneratine shaft in spacing corresponding substantiallyto t e pac ng o he, 1 pa rs O nead ng. m m

and connections rqin said eccentrics: to th rnam g; n i. he adja e t rocking l v r HENRY g n sn in their middlen ti ns. w th, 

